Latch structure



Nov. 17, 1931. A. BITTORF LATCH STRUCTURE Filed April 2. 1928 PatentedNov. 17, 1931 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LOUIS A. BITTORF, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO NATIONALMANUFACTUR- ING- COMPANY, 01 STERLING, ILLINQIS, ACORPOBATION'OFJLLINOIS I i I LATCH STRUCTURE Application filed April 2,

My invention relates generally to door latch structure, and has to doespecially with latch operating means primarily adapted izor use withmultiple-section folding doors which may be used for garages and otherbuildings having large exit-entrance openings.

In the use-of multiple section folding doors, it. is desirable that thesections be folded closely together into a small space when the doorsare open- The various forms of latch structure heretofore employed havenot been. of such character as to permit of ready access to and ease inmanipulation ofthe same, at the same time permitting the door sectionsto be folded as above stated.

The main object: of my invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive,- but highly eiiicient, latch and latch operating mechani'sm which may be mounted at any desired position on any section ofthedoor, and which. is adjustable so as to not interfere with the foldingof the door sections closely together, while, at the same time,providing" an arrangement which may be easily quickly manipulated tolatch and unlatch the door. Another object is to provide an adjustablehandle for operatingthelatch member, such handle being adapted to beswung to a post tion where it may be readily and'securely grasped foroperation of the latch member and which may be folded closely againstthe door surface when not in use so that it doesi not interfere with thefolding of: the doors closely together. This feature also guards:against accidental and unauthorizedmanipu lation of the latch member.

A further object is to provide a novel form of. handle attachment whichenables the handle to be readily, quickly and securely connected to thelatch member, and. which makes the structure as a WllOlG' stronger andcheaper to construct and install. The at-' tachment is such that thehandle may also be readily detached from the latch member.

Other objects and advantages will. become apparent as this descriptionprogresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,-.-

Figure l is a perspective View oi the upper corner portionof a door ordoor: section having my invention appliedthereto;

1928;. Serial No. 266,552.

Fig. 2 is a plan section of a multiple-section folding door structurehaving my invent'ion Fig. 4; is an enlarged view of the attachment endof the latch operating handle, showing the form which theattachment-jaws take prior to interlocking the same with the re. mainderof the latch structure; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig 3, exce t showing the attachment-jaws ofthe hm 1 closed and interlocked with the remainder: of the latchstructure.

'With particular reference to the drawings, the latch structure may beassociated with a door supportedfin proper position upon. the buildingwall 10 by a plurality of hinges 11. This door. (Fig. 2) may take theform of a plurality of sections 12 which are connected together bysuitable-hinges 13 to permit them to be folded together, as indicatedindotted lines in Fig; 2, or to be extended toward. I v

door-closing position as indicated intulllines -In order to providemeans for latching oriiastening the door sectionsi, and door, in. theirdoor-closing, position, I provide a latch structure adapted to beP01110116 orm'ore' of the sections and which isof such. a character asto be: readily grasped and operated, at the sari-1e time; permitting thedoor sections to be folded closely together in a compact space. Thisstructure embodies a latch keeper 141 having. a rectangular body part 14with horizontally extending wings 14! adapted to be secured to' thesurface: (If the door sections 12 as by screws ldfipreferably, at apoint adjacent the upper corner or thedoor section as indicated inFig. 1. keeper is adapted to freely and; slidingly receive a latchmember which is comprised oi a;

reduced stem portion 16 having one end exa tending through the innermostend of the latch keeper and having a rectangnlar-shaped latch head 15-atthe other end A. spring 17 is mounted around the latch: stenr. Idbetween. the enlarged head. 15: and the innermost end of the keeper sothat the latch is always thrust outwardly toward the latching position.The end of the latch stem projects through the inner end of the keeperand pivotally receives a yoke member 18, the pivot being provided by across pin 19 which is of sufficient length to act as a stop for limitingthe outward or latching movement of the latch member 15.

A chain connector comprised of jointless links 20 is secured at one endto the yoke 18. The other end of the chain connector is connected to anadjustable operating handle supported by a bracket 21. Morespecifically, the bracket 21 is provided with horizontally extendinglegs 22, each having a centrally aligned opening 23 to rotatably andreciprocably receive the vertically aligned arms 24 and 25 of thehandle. These two handle arms are integrally joined by a bulging or Ushaped handle-grip 26 which readily receives the hand of the operator topermit rotation and reciprocation of the handle as a whole.

' To readily, quickly and securely attach the handle arm 24 to the innerend link of the chain connector, the free end of such arm is flattenedand cut to provide a diametrical tongue split into a central opening 24to form a pair of integral and fiat-sided jaws 24 and 24 which, beforethe attachment is complete, assume the separated or flaring relationshown clearly in Fig. 4. To fasten the handle andchain together, thejointless end link 20 is passed inwardly between the jaws 24 and 24intothe central opening 24 therebetween. The jaws are then forcedtogether by any suitable tool around the link 20 to the position shownin Fig. 5 with the result that a rigid, strong and durable connection isquickly formed between the chain and such connection is capable ofwithstanding the maximum loads which may be imposed upon the handle orchain. This arrangement also permits of ready and quick detachment ofthe handle and chain by spreading the jaws 24 and 24 apart to an extentto permit the link to pass therebetween. This arrangement permits theuse of a jointless-link type of chain, such as that shown and described,which may be very cheaply made. It will be noted that this diametricaltongue is slightly wider than the diameter of the handle arm 24 and itis also wider than the bracket openings 23. This prevents the parts frombecoming separated during shipment and when being handled as stockitems. It is very beneficial in preventing separation of the parts whennot in use.

In the use of my invention, assuming that the door is closed, the doormay be unlatched by rotating the handle about its support from thedotted line position of Fig. 1 to a position at right angles (full lineposition of Fig. 1) to the door surface so that the handle grip 26 maybe readily grasped by the hand. The handle is then moved downwardly todisengage the latch head 15 from the latch socket (not shown) as will bewell understood. The handle may then be moved to the dotted lineposition of Fig. 1 and the door sections 12 moved about their hinges 18to a folded position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2; or theadjacent section door may engage the handle and move it to itslattermentioned position as the door is opened.

The doors may, eventually, be folded back against the wall surface 10.By folding the handle to the dotted line position of Fig. 1, thedoorsmay be folded closer together and to anextent permitted by thelatch keeper 14. Thusly, my invention provides for the use of arelatively large handle which may be readily and firmly grasped withoutlimiting the extent to which the door sections may be moved together intheir opening movement, Furthermore, by moving the handle grip to aposition parallel with the door surface when the door is closed and thesections unfolded, the possibility of accidental or unauthorizedmanipulation of the latch is practically eliminated. It will beunderstood that while my invention is primarily adapted tomultiple-section door structures, it may also have utility in connectionwith any form of door. The latch structure may be applied to the bottomedge of the door as well as to the top as shown in the drawing. Also,while I have shown and described only one form of my invention, it is tobe understood that various changes in details and arrangement of partsthereof may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A handle for operating a door latch comprising a pair of verticallyaligned guide arms carried in spaced relation by a U- shaped hand gripwhich is integrally connected to the corresponding ends of said arms,the free end of one of said arms being shaped to form normally a pair offlat diametrical and gaping jaws with a circular receiving-spacetherebetween, said jaws being adapted to be forced together to encompassand confine a connector element within said circular receiving-space.

2. A handle adapted to be attached to a connector element for operatinga door latch comprising a hand grip portion and an integral circularattachment-shank, the end of said shank being shaped to form adiametrical tongue rectangular in cross-section and having a centralopening extending through its side walls, said tongue being split intosaid opening to provide oppositely adjustable jaw sections Which may bespread apart and closed to receive and retain the connector element.

3. Handle structure for operating a door latch comprising a handle, saidhandle having a pair of spaced guide arms extending endwise in the samegeneral direction and a hand-grip between said arms, a bracket adaptedto be attached to the door and having horizontally extending legs withopenings therein to rotatably and reciprocably receive said arms, theinner of said arms having its end portion flattened to provide adiametrical tongue greater in Width than the remainder of said arm andsaid bracketleg opening through which said latter arm operates, saidtongue being adapted for detachable connection to the latch.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. i

LOUIS A. BITTORF.

